NHL 19: Buffalo Sabres Player Ratings, Roster & Top Prospects

(Image Source: EA Sports)

Another season of rebuilding, tinkering, and selling was set to be on the cards for the Buffalo Sabres. But, having been robbed of the first overall pick in the draft several times, they took Rasmus Dahlin first overall, traded for sniper Jeff Skinner, and signed Carter Hutton in net, and now it all seems to be coming together for Buffalo. 

At the 27-game mark in the season, the Sabres were coming off of a ten-game win streak, which saw them climb to sit one point behind the Toronto Maple Leafs and two behind the Tampa Bay Lightning. Now, while they’re not Stanley Cup contenders yet, things finally look to be trending in the right direction in Buffalo.

Jack Eichel, Center, 87 OVR

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Age: 21Role: Playmaker CenterHeight: 188cmWeight: 93kgShoots: RightBest Stats: 92 Deking, Hand-Eye. 91 Wrist Shot Accuracy. 

Coming second only to Connor McDavid in his 2015 draft class, Jack Eichel has taken the Buffalo Sabres by the horns and earned the captain’s patch for his efforts. Still only 21-years-old, Eichel led the Sabres in 2017/18 with 25 goals and 64 points. Now, 27 games into the new campaign, Eichel continues to lead the way, with a whopping 32 points in 27 games, utilizing his playmaking more than his shooting skills this season. 

Rasmus Ristolainen, Defenseman, 86 OVR

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Age: 23Role: RightHeight: 193cmWeight: 99kgShoots: RightBest Stats: 90 Shot Blocking, Stick Checking, Balance, Strength, Slap Shot Power 

Also still young, Rasmus Ristolainen cuts a formidable shadow on the ice with his huge frame and stick reach. He’s been a consistent 40-plus point scorer over the last few seasons but hasn’t breached the ten-goal mark in a single campaign yet. But, if the Sabres keep flying, Ristolainen could see his tally of three goals in 27 games grow to surpass ten for the first time in his professional career. 

Carter Hutton, Goaltender, 82 OVR

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Age: 32Role: Hybrid GoaltenderHeight: 185cmWeight: 92kgShoots: LeftBest Stats: 87 Recover, Stick Low, Glove Low

Having been one of the best, if not the best backup goaltender in the NHL through spells with the Nashville Predators and St. Louis Blues, the Buffalo Sabres have given Carter Hutton a starting role. Now in his prime, Hutton has been putting in strong performances while adjusting to the increased role, holding a .917 save percentage through 19 starts. 

NHL 19 Buffalo Sabres Roster

From the Day 1, September 13 update, this is how the Buffalo Sabres’ first lines start. Buffalo’s strengths are in the team’s speed and youth. In NHL 19, it’s hard to see the team with these starting ratings going on a ten-game tear, but there are some very user-friendly skaters on each line, with Hutton’s rating improving significantly after the first couple of seasons as a recognized starter. 

Jeff Skinner (84) – Jack Eichel (87) – Sam Reinhart (83)Marco Scandella (81) – Rasmus Ristolainen (86)Carter Hutton (82)

Name
Overall Rating
Position/Role
Height
Age
Shoots
Best Stats
Jeff Skinner
84
Left Wing Sniper
180cm
26
Left
92 Agility. 91 Acceleration. 90 Wrist Shot Accuracy, Deking, Puck Control
Sam Reinhart
83
Right Wing Playmaker
185cm
22
Right
95 Discipline. 91 Deking. 89 Passing, Puck Control
Kyle Okposo
83
Right Wing Power Forward
183cm
30
Right
88 Slap Shot Power, Balance, Hand-Eye, Passing, Puck Control
Conor Sheary
81
Left Wing Playmaker
173cm
26
Left
88 Acceleration, Agility, Speed, Deking
Vladimir Sbotka
81
Two-Way Left Wing
178cm
31
Left
87 Acceleration, Agility, Speed, Aggressiveness
Marco Scandella
81
Defensive Defenseman
191cm
28
Left
88 Slap Shot Power. 87 Wrist Shot Power, Body Checking, Strength, Balance, Shot Blocking, Stick Checking
Jake McCabe
80
Two-Way Defenseman
185cm
24
Left
86 Slap Shot Power, Defensive Awareness. 85 Strength, Durability, Body Checking, Wrist Shot Power, Acceleration, Agility, Balance, Speed, Stick Checking, Shot Blocking
Jason Pominville
80
Right Wing Playmaker
183cm
35
Right
90 Discipline. 87 Slap Shot Power, Wrist Shot Power, Speed
Zach Bogosian
80
Defensive Defenseman
191cm
28
Right
89 Strength, Balance, Shot Blocking
Patrik Berglund
80
Two-Way Right Wing
193cm
30
Left
91 Discipline. 88 Balance, Strength
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*Nicholas Baptiste traded to the Nashville Predators on October 1. 

Rasmus Dahlin, Defenseman, 82 OVR

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Age: 18Role: Two-Way DefensemanHeight: 185cmWeight: 75kgShoots: LeftPotential: Elite med

It took a little while for him to adjust, as you would expect from a teenager entering the NHL – despite playing adult hockey in Sweden’s top division – but Dahlin is now showing the skills that made him the first overall pick of the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. He’s already incredibly mobile with an 85 in acceleration, agility, and speed, and generates a wealth of power from both types of shot.

The Buffalo Sabres roster is already filled with great young talents: but there’s much more to come. Alexander Nylander has the potential become a top-class forward, with Brendan Guhle adding some hefty bite on the blueline. Casey Mittelstadt is already in the NHL lines at 19-years-old, and they have one of the hottest goaltending prospects in their pool, Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen. There may not be many players in the pool, but it boasts a tremendous amount of NHL potential.

NHL 19 Buffalo Sabres Top Prospects

Name
Overall Rating
Position/Role
Height
Age
Shoots
Potential
Oskari Laaksonen
57
Two-Way Defenseman
188cm
19
Right
Top 6 med
Marcus Davidsson
59
Two-Way Left Wing
183cm
19 
Left
Top 9 med
Alexander Nylander
74
Right Wing Playmaker
183cm
20
Right
Elite med
Rasmus Asplund
66
Two-Way Left Wing
180cm
20
Left
Top 9 med
Brendan Guhle
76
Two-Way Defenseman
188cm
21
Left
Top 4 med
Devante Stephens
57
Defensive Defenseman
185cm
21
Left
7th D med
Vasily Glotov
60
Playmaker Center
178cm
21
Left
AHL Top 6 med
Jonas Johansson
68
Butterfly Goaltender
193cm
22
Left
Backup med
Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen
66
Hybrid Goaltender
191cm
19
Left
Elite med
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